S Africa opposition squabbles over ‘hate’ song

South Africa's leading opposition party yesterday accused its closest rival of inciting ethnic violence during a mass rally -- shutting the door on a broad coalition ahead of next year's elections.

Julius Malema, head of the radical leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), led chants of "kill the Boer, the farmer" -- a controversial anti-apartheid struggle song -- as he addressed a crowd of supporters on Saturday.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

The Boer are the descendants of Dutch settlers.

"This is a man who is determined to ignite... civil war," John Steenhuisen, the leader of South Africa's biggest opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), said of Malema yesterday.

He described the firebrand politician as a "bloodthirsty tyrant" bent on inciting "mass murder".

The DA would file a complaint against him with the UN Human Rights Council and was considering further legal action, Steenhuisen added.

The EFF did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

The squabble comes as South African parties position themselves for national elections in 2024.

Polls suggest the ruling African National Congress (ANC), in power since the end of white rule in 1994, could see its vote drop below 50 percent, battered by discontent at corruption, power cuts and entrenched unemployment.